Not Just the 202 Area Code

Earlier this week, Todd Harris, Thompson’s communications director, defended Fred’s decision to skip the NH debate in favor of Jay Leno by saying it was a means to reach “everyday normal Americans who don’t live in the 202 area code.” Well, Drudge has just posted the ratings of the debate, and it seems plenty of viewers outside the beltway watched:

I don’t have the “Tonight Show” ratings, but even if more people watched, keep in mind that the debate was viewed by a concentrated audience of likely Republican primary voters.